Leaders in their 60s should retire, Amanah VP suggests sarcastically

Amanah vice-president Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud sarcastically recommended party leaders who are in their 60s to step down honourably if they are unwanted by the party.

This was in response to Amanah’s youth wing debating seat allocations yesterday.

“I am 65 next year. Former health minister Dzulkefly (Ahmad) is 66 years old. There are many more over 60 but we need some leaders over 60 because of their wisdom and experience.

“So for them and my friends of the same generation, who have reached an age where we understand that if the people or our members don’t want us anymore, withdraw respectfully,” she said during her closing speech at the Amanah Convention held at the Klana Resort Hotel in Seremban today.

Siti Mariah said in an offended tone that those aged 60 and above are actually in the party’s leadership due to wisdom and experience.

Yesterday, Kelantan Amanah Youth leader Hazmi Hassan said the party’s youth wing felt jealous and marginalised that the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) would be given a grade A seat in the next general election.

Amanah Youth chief Hasbie Muda said the youth wing should also be allocated such winnable seats.

Hasbie also said that if Amanah wants to attract youth votes, the party needs a fresh "face" or image, and not just rely on partnering with a youth party.

Siti Mariah in her speech today said she was upset when the youth wing gave the impression that young people were not given a platform to do party work.

She instead said the existing platform given to the youth is not in terms of seats but it is more about the benefits that can be contributed to the party. In fact, according to her, it should be implemented consistently and not seasonally.

Unsatisfactory work observed

Commenting further, Siti Mariah, who is a Selangor state executive councillor, said she often sees those who do party work still have not reached a satisfactory level.

She said this is especially in finding solutions to the issues that need to be addressed.

“We have to look at the issues that we want to deal with and we are good at.

“Don’t simply follow and let people talk about the price of goods, we talk the same, people talk about nationality, we talk too.

“There are issues that we need to have wisdom and brainstorm,” said the Seri Serdang state assemblyperson.

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